Jeff Probst said in an interview that while Brandon was ranting, he was whispering into his mike for security to send back-up. Also, that shoulder massage he gave Brandon was not solely an attempt to relax him, but to give himself an edge if it did turn physical. He'd decided right away to hold Tribal right then and there, for if he didn't, Brandon would go back to the Favorites' camp and no good could come of that. All in all, Jeff handled it pretty well.

Did you ever wonder where the players go when they walk off into the darkness after being voted off? They meet with a psychologist. A psychologist was waiting for Brandon when he walked off in the direction Jeff pointed to.

It looked to me as if the shoulder massage was at least in part a nervous reaction on Jeff's part to a tense situation. It gave him something to do other than just stand there and listen to the vitriol pouring out of Brandon's mouth. But, yes, he did handle the situation well.

I've watched one episode of Southland now, and I see what you're talking about. It certainly does feel real, even without Mike to vouch for it. No background music helps, and the street people are all so believable. I need to get more familiar with the regular cast.

I'm giving up on The Following. I don't think anyone in that show has a working brain. One example...Kevin Bacon is supposed to be protecting a woman in an isolated house. It's night, there are bad guys out there, shots have been fired. So what does he do? He goes out on a well-lighted porch to look around into the darkness. Perfect target. The only reason he isn't killed right there is that he's the star of the series. Phooey.